SHENTONISTA

"I’ve been experiencing sleep paralysis since I was young, and it worsened in my teenage years which resulted in a fear of sleeping and insomnia. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to prevent it by making use of LED lights, ambient sounds, and an air purifier to create a comfortable environment.”

“As a leather crafter, I’d say the most enjoyable part about working with leather is also the most challenging, and that’s designing the actual products. Anyone can learn how to make a wallet, but coming up with unconventional designs is not easy.”

“I feel that many people in Singapore are scared to be creative, so I hold workshops with Vans in collaboration with local artists to encourage people to have fun with customising their own shoes, and be more open-minded about different forms of creativity.”

“As a photographer, I love working with motion and space, but I don’t want to tie myself down to a fixed style just yet. I've noticed that my photos are pretty dark and dull, so I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone and add more colours into my works.”

“It’s not difficult to start practising sustainability in Singapore as there are so many small eco businesses and consignment stores here. I started my sustainability journey like most, with small actions such as reducing the use of plastic bags. And just last year, my family even got into composting!”

“I’m a hairstylist from Tokyo and I run a private hair salon in Singapore. Many of my customers here are cosplayers who go for bright coloured hair, which is my favourite hairstyle to work on as I love the bright and colourful Harajuku fashion culture.”

“I do marketing for the Singapore Symphony Group and it’s very encouraging to see more young audiences show interest in classical music thanks to popular musicians such as TwoSet Violin and Chloe Chua. It’s so fulfilling to witness the culmination of all the work we’ve done at each concert."

“In 10 years, I see myself riding my motorbike somewhere up in the mountains or on a bike tour with my dad. My dream bike is a Harley Davidson, but it’s not very practical for long distances. If I do get one though, maybe I’ll upgrade my moustache to a full-blown beard to look the part.”

“I love playing the singing bowl as it brings so much energy to the body—you can feel the vibrations right down to the core! With this instrument, there’s no need for any lyrics; the sound frequencies alone can heal both the body and mind.”

“Many Chinese Singaporeans are Western-educated and modernised, and a lot of us are unaware of the 5,000 years of history and culture that made us who we are today. Our research studio, Chito, is a platform for youths to connect with the Chinese culture in a contemporary way.”

"I used to party often, but now that I’m earning my own money, I’ve realised that I can’t afford that anymore. Now I go once in awhile, but otherwise I’ll usually be chilling at a friend’s house—we like to play Super Smash Bros. on the Switch, although we can get pretty competitive!”

"I’d say my style is comfortable and timeless, with a touch of Japanese accents. I like to visit Japan every year during spring or summer and that’s where I collect my outfits for the year, so I don’t shop for clothes much in Singapore.”